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Re: red foot, baytril, and head bobbing


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Posted by Dan P on January 17, 2002 at 11:43:18:

In Reply to: red foot, baytril, and head bobbing posted by David Sanchez on January 16, 2002 at 10:33:55:

: Hello all,
: I recently acquired a red foot for x-mas and truly love the little guy. He is only 8 months old and looks great from the little that I know. I took him in to the vet because I think that it's a good idea to get acquainted with the doc and the animal from the get-go. The vet noticed he was bobbing his head and such, she believed it to be labored breathing though the breeder told me it was behavioral to male red foots. I am not even sure yet if Terpsy is male or female. Since the injections he seems a bit lethargic, lots of burrowing and sleeping. I was wondering if anyone else knows anything about red foot head bobbing and if they have had problems with Baytril and baby red foots. Thanks for any further information. Before the antibiotics Terpsy ate a great deal and now his appetite has notably shrunken. Any insight?

: David Sanchez

Baby redfoots do bob their head around and it's not a social thing at that age. Tortoises can't expand their shells to breathe, so as they breathe their front legs and head move in and out of the shell with each breath.

If he's moving and eating with no evidence of pneumonia, he's fine. Moving and eating are definitely temperature related.

Now for your problem. Baytril is a great drug (sorry I like it) but it has limitations. It should not be used undiluted in small animals. The carrying agent causes local tissue irritation. Those injections hurt.

Two things. First I'd bet he doesn't have a respiratory problem, but since I haven't seen it, I don't know. Second, if you have to give Baytril to a small animal, it should be given orally. Some people claim it will kill off the gut flora if given orally, but Baytril penetrates the body so well, I'd bet the injections kill off the gut flora just as much. If you continue giving Baytril, you can pry open the mouth with a toothpick and drop it in.

Ordinarily Baytril is given as an oral med. (pills) to dogs and cats after a single injection. You won't find reptile use on the label either since no drugs are labeled for herp use.

Good luck.


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